Sneak Peeks: Valentine events all about quality

Raina Petkoff (Jacqueline Donnaruma) offers Captain Bluntschli (Patrick McKenna) some chocolate creams, which sets in motion a series of humorous and romantic complications in George Bernard Shaw’s “Arms and the Man,” which is playing at Steamer 10 Theatre in Albany.
Photo by Joe Schuyler

It’s Valentine’s Weekend and even if you don’t support the idea of spending a lot of money to prove your affection for another person, it’s probably a good idea to find inexpensive entertainment for your love.

Fortunately, there are quality, free events available.

THEATER

ALBANY >> You can’t get more inexpensive than free. As fortune would have it, Theatre Voices, one of the best theater companies in the area, is offering a free staged reading of one of George Bernard Shaw’s funniest plays “Arms and the Man” at Steamer 10 Theatre in Albany.

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It’s a play about the false glory of heroism, idealism in romance and the true values to be found in relationships. For those who fear Shaw’s didactics, fear not as “Arms and the Man” is an accessible comic delight.

CLASSICAL MUSIC

ALBANY >> If you want to really appear a hero, you can attend the Saturday matinee of “Arms and the Man” and after the play walk a couple of blocks over to the Massry Center for the Arts, 1002 Madison Ave., on the campus of The College of Saint Rose.

At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the St. Rose Camerata is offering a free program of love songs. If you are unfamiliar with a Camerata, think chamber music with voices. The program is classical but extremely romantic and the voices are gorgeous.

Go to www.massrycenter.org for more details.

POP MUSIC

ALBANY >> If you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Friday, your best bet for free entertainment is at The Egg in Albany, where they are continuing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ arrival in New York City.

Friday night, there wil be a free “A Valentine’s Day Concert of Beatles Love Songs” concert. The guitar trio The Nutopians will be accompanied by pianist Cole Broderick and vocalist Sara Milonovich to offer an evening of romance Beatles music.

“Beatles Love Songs” 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Egg in Albany’s Empire State Plaza. Admission is free, but reservations are necessary for admission. Call 473-1845 or go to theegg.org.

DANCE

SARATOGA SPRINGS >> If you don’t mind waiting until Sunday to celebrate, Skidmore College and the National Museum of Dance are honoring the work of choreographer Merce Cunningham at 2 p.m. at the National Museum of Dance.

The program is presented in conjunction with Skidmore College Dance Department Chairwoman Debra Fernandez and Andre Weber, stager for Merce Cunningham Residency. Selected dancers from Skidmore College will perform.

Admission is free. The National Museum of Dance is located at 99 S. Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

For more information, visit www.dancemuseum.org or call 518-584-2225 ext. 3009.